If there was one regret she had when she was forced to leave this world fifteen years ago, it was this pair of twins she had never held even for a single day.
Even after fifteen years, the moment she saw him, the maternal love that had lain dormant in her heart naturally surged forth, making it impossible for her to tear her gaze away from him.
"Madam."
It was Chu Xiao who noticed her unusual behavior, frowning and tightening his grip on her hand. He did not like Rong Ci looking at others, even if it was just a young boy.
This address of "Madam" also drew Zhao Shaoyou's attention to her.
Zhao Shaoyou could sense that the gaze beneath the veil seemed fixed on him.
This madam was looking at him, but there was no malice in her eyes.
So he boldly met her gaze, a hint of unrestrained arrogance curling at the corners of his lips.
Chu Xiao's voice instantly turned cold, his eyes menacing: "Do you not want your eyes anymore?"
Only then did Rong Ci snap back to her senses, instinctively reaching out to press Chu Xiao's hand in reassurance, her voice gentle and clear: "Husband, don't you think he looks about the same age as my younger brother?"
The princess of Qi had a younger brother from the same mother, ten years younger than Rong Ci. Chu Xiao's hostility instantly dissipated—his wife was missing her younger sibling.
Chu Xiao raised his hand slightly. "Take him away and interrogate him about his origins."
A youth of such extraordinary bearing appearing in the Wei State Travel Palace must be from a noble family, though it was unclear which one.
Lao Wei Wang spoke in a low voice: "Since this is in my travel palace, wouldn't it be overstepping for the King of Chu to detain someone privately?"
Chu Xiao smiled without warmth: "Oh? Then does Wei Wang wish to discuss the hundred thousand Qin soldiers at Hexi Highlands Yijun today, or this matter of overstepping?"
Lao Wei Wang narrowed his eyes instantly, while his advisors beside him hurriedly whispered a few words of persuasion.
Uniting with Zhao and Chu to jointly attack the Qin invaders was the most urgent matter.
That was also the purpose of this Three-State Alliance.
Seeing them discuss official matters, and with Rong Ci's thoughts entirely on her son whom she had just met for the first time, she excused herself to get some fresh air. Chu Xiao nodded and signaled the maids and guards to follow and protect the madam.
Rong Ci folded her hands in front of her and walked out slowly, already accustomed to having a group of people trailing behind her.
After eight years of marriage, Chu Xiao's controlling nature remained terrifyingly strong.
Yet at this moment, she had no mind to dwell on Chu Xiao.
She was worried about her son.
Chu Xiao's methods of interrogation were anything but gentle, and Rong Ci needed to go see for herself.
Rong Ci followed quickly and, upon reaching the side courtyard, saw Chu Xiao's right-hand men restraining the youth, tying his hands and feet with hemp rope, and roughly pushing him into the courtyard.
Strangely, the young man showed no concern for his own predicament, his courage immense.
Watching from behind her veiled hat, Rong Ci recalled the bits of information she had gathered over the past eight years.
The elder of the Qin twins was named Ru Heng, the younger Shao You.
Though twins, their personalities were poles apart—Ru Heng gentle and steady, Shao You unruly and troublesome.
This, she thought, must be her Shao You.
"Madam."
Upon seeing Rong Ci, the guards in the side courtyard all bowed their heads in greeting, not daring to look up.
"I'm just here to watch idly. Carry on as you were."
A maid brought a chair, placed it in the courtyard, and helped the madam sit down.
Bai Xing and Bai Jian looked troubled. The madam was the gentlest and most compassionate; being watched by her during an interrogation made it difficult to proceed properly.
If things got too bloody and displeased the madam, that would be a grave offense.
Even with his eyes bound, Zhao Shaoyou could still follow the gaze of the King of Chu's wife. He remained curious about the face beneath that veil.
He had heard many say that there were countless beauties in this world, but none could compare to the peerless grace of the King of Chu's wife.
Yet he had once seen a portrait of his mother in his father's bedchamber, and he felt that even the most stunning beauty in the world could not hold a candle to his mother.
In his heart, no one could surpass his mother.
Even though he had never seen her with his own eyes.
Perhaps the young man's gaze was too conspicuous, for Bai Xing and Bai Jian stepped forward expressionlessly, drawing their whips, ready to interrogate.
Rong Ci tightened her grip on the armrest of her chair. She saw the barbs on the whip—if it struck flesh and bone, it would surely tear away skin and flesh, causing unbearable agony.
"Speak, who sent you?" Bai Xing demanded sharply.
Zhao Shaoyou snorted coldly. "I come and go as I please."
Bai Xing frowned and raised the whip.
The young man stiffened his neck, showing not a hint of fear.
The most anxious was Rong Ci.
She could not intervene directly, as everyone around her was loyal to Chu Xiao. If he knew how much she cared for this young man, Chu Xiao would only ensure his death came sooner.
In that moment of hesitation, the whip struck the young man's chest with a heavy thud.
Bai Xing held back his strength out of consideration for the lady's presence.
Yet even so, the whip tore through the young man's clothes, leaving a bloody, mangled mess.
Before Zhao Shaoyou could even register the pain, Rong Ci could no longer sit still. She rose and rushed to his side, restraining herself from touching the whip's mark.
As her fragrance drew near, Zhao Shaoyou forgot the pain, his gaze fixed intently on the fluttering veil so close to him, faintly catching a glimpse of her true appearance.
He froze.
His lips parted slightly, as if two unutterable words were about to escape.
Mother?
Rong Ci turned her head and glared coldly at Bai Xing. With one hand lifting her veil, her face flushed with restrained anger, her voice, no longer gentle, carried a chilling edge of reproach.
"How old is he? Was it necessary to strike so harshly?! Look at him—does he look like someone sent on a mission? If he were just a mischievous young noble from some influential family, how would you explain beating him like this?"
Bai Xing and Bai Jian were bewildered.
So harsh? Beating him like this?
Not really.
Mischievous? He had climbed onto the roof of the Wei State Travel Palace to eavesdrop on matters of three states—a crime punishable by death would not be excessive.
After speaking, Rong Ci turned to Zhao Shaoyou, her tone instantly softening with concern. "Does it hurt?"
It must hurt terribly, she thought, frowning as she reached behind her to ask a maid for medicine.
Zhao Shaoyou was utterly dazed, staring at her in disbelief.
Had he been struck senseless?
Why did he feel he was looking at someone identical to the portrait in his father's bedchamber?
Or had his eyes failed him too.
Zhao Shaoyou blinked not once, desperately recalling the portrait, trying to discern any differences between the two.
There was one.
The beautiful lady before him had a cinnabar mole between her brows, giving her a serene, almost divine aura. The way she looked at him with such care resembled a bodhisattva offering salvation to all beings.
It left him speechless, afraid to offend her lightly.
So, trembling and cautious, he gazed at her bit by bit.
Rong Ci felt a sudden pang in her heart.
The power of blood ties was truly formidable. When apart, she could barely suppress her silent longing.
But now, seeing him, she had to struggle to restrain the urge to embrace him.
This was her son.
In the depths of Rong Ci's eyes, tiny glimmers of moisture sparkled like scattered stars against a rosy cloud.
Zhao Shaoyou was utterly captivated, unconsciously murmuring, "You look… so much like my mother."
If his mother were still alive, would she look like this?
So gentle, so loving, gazing at him this way.
Rong Ci raised her hand and gently placed it on his hair, stroking it tenderly, as if to soothe, as if to cherish.
Her heart was churning with emotions, yet she managed to maintain a gentle facade on her face. As if speaking to the person behind her, she smiled softly and said, "You also look very much like my younger brother."
So it was because this young man resembled the young lord of Qi Kingdom that the lady had been so distraught. Bai Xing and Bai Jian exchanged a glance and promptly put away their whips.
"Take him inside to treat his wounds. If your master questions it, place the blame on me." Rong Ci slowly rose to her feet, her tone leaving no room for doubt.
No matter how gentle she appeared, she was still the mistress of the house, the lady ruler, and a princess of Qi Kingdom—her authority was such that none dared disobey.
Zhao Shaoyou had only received one lash of the whip, but because his age and appearance resembled the lady's younger brother, he was granted the lady's personal care.
Bai Xing, Bai Jian, and the maidservants all waited outside the door.
Rong Ci removed her veiled hat and sat at the table, holding a high-quality wound medicine, instructing the young man to remove his outer garment.
Zhao Shaoyou, having lived a rough-and-tumble life until now, was being treated so gently by a woman for the first time, and now he was being asked to undress. He felt embarrassed.
Rong Ci chuckled softly, "Didn't you say I resemble your mother? Then, for a short while, you can think of me as your mother."
"When a child is injured, it’s only natural for a mother to tend to the wounds and care for them."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Shaoyou’s lips moved slightly before he muttered quietly, "I’ve never been cared for by my mother."
Rong Ci’s hand paused, and an unexpected pang of dense pain and pity surged in her heart.